[Relation of lymphatic microvessel density detected by monoclonal antibody D2-40 with VEGF-C expression in breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of lymphatic micovessel density (LMVD) detected by monoclonal antibody D2-40) with the VEGF-C expression in human breast cancer.


METHODS
Tissue samples of 102 breast cancers, 25 breast fibroadenomas and 10 normal breasts were collected. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detected the lymphatic micovessels with monoclonal antibody D2-40. The expression of VEGF-C was detect by SP immunohistochemistry, and VEGF-C mRNA by hybridization in situ.


RESULTS
In 102 breast cancers, the positive rate of D2-40 was 76.5% (78/102), higher than that in the breast fibroadenomas. LMVD in the periphery of breast cancer was 30.1 lymphatic microvessels per x 100 field of vision, which was significantly higher than that in the central area of the tumors (P = 0.000). The LMVD in the periphery of the breast cancers was correlated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes (r = 0.964, P < 0.01). The positive rates of VEGF-C protein and mRNA were 55.9% (57/102) and 59.8% (61/102), respectively, significantly higher than that in the breast fiberoadenomas and normal breast tissues (chi2 = 11.653, P = 0.003; chi2 = 10.345, P = 0.006), and were significantly correlated with the status of lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and the expressions of c-erbB-2 and p53 protein (P < 0.05). Both of VEGF-C protein and mRNA were significantly correlated with LMVD detected by D2-40 (P < 0.05), especially with the LMVD in the periphery of breast cancers (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The monoclonal antibody D240 can be used to detect the lymphatic endothelium in human breast cancer. The lymphatic microvessel density in the periphery of breast cancer is correlated with the lymph node metastasis and expression of VEGF-C. Therefore, VEGF-C may play a significant role in the lymphangiogenesis leading to metastasis of breast cancer.
Xie
Xiao-Dong
XD
Department of Oncology, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang 110016, China. xiexiaodong@csco.org.cn
Qu
Shu-Xian
SX
Zheng
Zhen-Dong
ZD
Song
Fu-Lin
FL
Liu
Da-Wei
DW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467486:VEGFC protein, human; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; C500987:monoclonal antibody D2-40